Most people want their lover to lose weight

Nearly 60 per cent of people in a relationship want their partner to lose weight, a survey has revealed.

And it's not just a couple of kilos either. Nearly 45 per cent of the Brits questioned said they'd like their lover to drop at least 6kg to improve their health.

When it came to smoking, the figures were even higher. Almost 80 per cent of people whose partners smoked wanted them to quit.

According to the British Heart Foundation's research, 58 per cent of people believe that the best way to encourage a partner to change their ways is to ask them outright.

But of the 1,426 men and women questioned to publicise Heart Matters - a free service providing support and practical tips to improve heart health - less than a quarter wanted their partner to cut down on alcohol.

Just 3 per cent of those interviewed said they would normally reward their partner for altering their habits, and less than 1 per cent said they would threaten their loved one to change.

The research comes just after Weight Watchers released new figures showing that the average Briton is eating 43 per cent more than they should be.

The survey showed that Britons are chomping their way through 1,270kg of food a year each - the equivalent weight of a whole football team or 14 baby elephants - and that is 384kg more than we need.

The research showed that "fatty spreads" are the biggest offender, with the average Briton consuming seven times more than the recommended amount of butter and margarine-type spreads on a weekly basis.

It also revealed that we eat almost four times the amount of meat we should each week, more than twice as much bread, and three times as many biscuits and cakes.

However, when it comes to fruit and vegetables, we are eating far less than we need - 69 per cent less fruit and 75 per cent less vegetables, according to the experts.

Zoe Hellman, Head of Public Health at Weight Watchers, said: "The current epidemic of over-eating is hugely influenced by today's overloaded food environment.

"With the increased popularity of coffee shop culture and eating on the go it seems that, everywhere you turn, there is yet another place you can buy food, cooked and ready to eat."

Added to this, over the course of the 1990s the average plate size grew by 20 per cent encouraging people to eat larger portions.

According to the weight loss organisation, these factors combine to create a process of "mindless eating" where people are oblivious to many food choices they make.

Research shows we make 220 food and drink decisions every day, yet are only aware of making about 15.